Drive controlling means



March 17, 1953 F, BALL DRIVE CONTROLLING MEANS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 FiledMay 22, 1947 M 4 4 Z W0 6 K k 0 March 17, 1953 c. F. BALL 2,631,477

DRIVE CONTROLLING MEANS Filed May 22, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 1??62220262202 165 @fiail. M T

(4 Zormy Patented Mar. 17, 1953 OFFICE DRIVE CONTROLLING MEANSPennsylvania Application May 22, 1947, Serial No. 749,715

Claims.

This invention relates to Winches and more particularly, but notexclusively, to an improved post pulling winch especially designed foruse in removing and reclaiming posts or roof props in underground mines.

In a, winch, such as a post puller for removing and reclaiming posts orroof props used in underground mining work for supporting the roof, itis desirable that a relatively powerful force be applied to the posts orprops to release them from their roof-supporting position, and when apost is released, it is necessary to pull it out of the way of thefalling roof at a relatively high speed. It is accordingly desirable toprovide, in such winches, a two-speed drive forthe cable winding a drumso that the pulling cable may be wound in at a relatively low speed toapply a powerful pulling force to the post, andthereafter the cable maybe wound in at a relatively high speed so F that the post may be rapidlypulled out of the way. It is also desirable to provide control means forthe two-speed drive so that the speed may be quickly shifted from thelow to the high.

In such machines, capstans, often called niggerheads or gypsies, aresometimes associated with the cable winding drum, and it is desirable,at times, to drive such capstans while the cable winding drum isdisconnected from its drive.

It is the contemplation of the present invention to provide an improvedpost pulling winch which embodies the desirable characteristics aboveoutlined. Another object is to provide an improved winch'having improveddrum driving means and simplified control means. A further object is tol'provide an improved winch wherein the cable 'winding drum may bedriven at either high or low speeds. Yet another object is to provide animproved drum driving means having improved fluid operated controlmeans. A still further object is to provide an improved drum drivingmeans embodying .a, high speed drive and a low speed drive and improvedfluid operated means for selectively effecting drum drive at high andlow speeds. Another object is to provide an improved drum driving meanembodying a high speed friction control and a lowspeed friction controland improved fluid cylinders for effecting I release of the low speedcontrol when the high speed control is operative, and vice versa. Still--another--object is to provide an improved low 1 speed planetary drivefor the cablewinding drum i embodying a rotatable reaction gear which iscontrolled by a fluid actuated frictional control device. A furtherobject is to provide an improved-thigh speed drumidrive by connectingthe reaction member of the planetary drive directly to the drive shaftand releasing the friction band for controlling rotation of the reactionmember. Another object is to provide an improved winch having a capstanassociated with the cable winding drum and having improved fluidoperated control means associated with the control means for thefriction band and clutch whereby the capstan may be driven while the.drumsis disconnected from its drive., A still further object is toprovide an .improvedHdrum-shaft unit for a winch. Still another objectis to. provide an improved fluid operated controlmeans for a winch.These and other objectsand advantages of the invention will, however,hereinafter more fully appear. 1

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustrationone form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section taken through a winchconstructed in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 2 i a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig.1, showing the brake in applied position.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the fluid control means.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention there is shown a winchwhich may be of the same general character as that disclosed in myPatent No. 2,389,177, patented November 20, 1945, and the presentinvention is directed to improvements over the winchof the patent.Evidently, various features of the present invention may be embodied incable winding mechanism of other kinds, and the improved driving andcontrol means may be embodied in mechanisms other than winches.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a cable winding drum, on which acable is adapted to be wound, is designated i and has end portions 2 and3 providing coaxial hubs 4 and 5 respectively, herein suitably journaledin bearings 6 and I supported within suitable longitudinally spacedsupports 8 and s respectively, the latter preferably mounted cn asuitable base or other supporting structure. Extending centrallythroughthe drum and journaled in bearings Ill and II, suitably supportedwithin the drum, is a drive shaft i2. This drive shaft projects axiallyin opposite directions through the drum hubs 4 and 5 out wardly beyondthe supports 8 and 9 and has keyedthereto at one end at i2 a capstan orsoc-alled niggerhead or gypsy 13, about which a cable is adapted to besnubbed in a known manner. Secured, as by screws, to this capstan at itsinner end near the support 8 is a suitable drive member, herein a drivesprocket I4, suitably operatively connected to a suitable power source.Fixed to the drive shaft [2 near the opposite end of the drum is a spurpinion l5 which meshes with spur planet gears l6 (one of which is shownin Fig. 1), each journaled on a horizontal stub shaft l'l supported atone end within the adjacent drum flange I8 and at its other end within abracket 19 secured, as by screws, to the drum. These planet gears meshwith an internal gear 20 secured to a rotatable reaction member 2| co--axial with the drive shaft. Suitably fixed to the drum hub 5 is abearing support 22, and the re- H action member 2| has a sleeve-likeshaft portion 23 projecting axially beyond the bearing support 22 and towhich a friction drum 24 is secured.

. The shaft portion 230i the reaction member and the hub 25 of thefriction drum are, journaled in bearings 25, 26 supported respectivelywithin the. drum hub 5 and the bearing support 22.. The

hub 25 of the friction drum is keyed at 21 to the; shaft portion 23 nearits outer end and is rigidly held in position on the shaft portion by aretaining ring 23 suitably locked to the outer end of the shaft portion.Cooperating with the exterior I periphery of the friction drum 24 is acontractible friction band 29 and, as shown in Fig. 2, this frictionband is attached at one end at 39 to a suitable support 3i which ispreferably in rigid relation with the drum supports 8 and 9, and theother end of the friction band is attached at 32 to a lever 33 pivotedat 34 on the support 3|. A lever 35, movable with the lever 33, ispivotally connected at 35 to a piston rod 3! of a reciprocable piston 38contained in a fluid cylinder 39, the latter bein pivotally mounted at49 on a stationary support 4|. Connected between pivot pins 42 and. 43providing the pivots for the. cylinder and, piston rod are coil springs44, 44 (see Fig. 3) which constantly urge the piston 38toward itsretracted position. Thus, when the piston38 is moved to apply thefriction band 29, the reaction member 2| is held stationary, and as thedrive shaft I2 is driven by the chain sprocket [4, the cable windingdrum I. is rotated in cable winding direction through spur pinion l5 andthe planet nal gear 20, the planet gears I6 rolling around the thenstationary internal gear as a trackway to effect low speed drumrotation.

Now referring to the clutch for connecting the l2 to effect high speeddrum rotation in cable winding direction, it will be noted that thedrive shaft extends axially outwardly beyond the shaft portion 23 of thereaction member, and keyed at 45 of a cylindrical flanged member 41.Slidably mounted on the cylindrical body of the member 41 is a hub 48 ofa reciprocable clutch member 49, herein preferably a clutch coneengageable with a conical surface 50 on the friction drum 24. Studs 5|,secured to the flange 52 of the member 41, pass outwardly throughopenings in the clutch member 49, and encircling these studs andarranged between washers 53 held on the studs by nuts and the outer faceof the clutch member 49 are coil springs 54 which constantly urge theclutch member toward its connected position. Rigidly secured to the hub46 of the member 41 is a non-reciprocable sleevelike piston '55 receivedin a bore 56 of a reciprocabl'e fluid gears 16 on the drum, which meshwith the intercable winding drum directly to the drive shaft 45 to thisprojecting end of the shaft is a hub cylinder 51, the latter secured, asby screws, to the hub 48 of the reciprocable clutch member 49. A fluidseal 58 surrounds the piston 55 and engages the walls of the cylinder 51to prevent leakage. Thus, when fluid is supplied to the cylinder 51, thelatter is moved axially outwardly with respect to the piston 55 torelease the clutch member 49 against the action of the springs 54. Whenfluid is vented from the cylinder 51, the springs 54 automaticallyconnect the clutch. Evidently, the friction band may be released bypressure fluid and the clutch may be connected by pressure fluid, and,the springs may apply the friction band and disconnect the clutch.Moreover, the parts may be. reversed so that the piston is reciprocableand the cylinder is held against reciprocation.

In this improved construction, suitably driven from the same powersourceas the cable winding drum and capstan, is a conventional, fluid pump 59having its intake connected by a conduit 6| to a fluid tank 62, hereincontaining a liquid such as a light lubricating oil. The pump dischargeis connected by a conduit 63 to the pressure passage of a valve box 64of a conventional valve mechanism 65 while the discharge passage of thevalve box is, connected by a conduit 66 back to the tank; The valve boxof this valve mechanism contains a conventional reciprocable slide valve57, preferably of the balanced spool type, operated by a handle 68.Leading from the valve box is. a conduit 69 having branches 79 and "H,the former connected to the fluid cylinder 39 and the latter connectedthrough a conventional hand valve 12 to a conduit 13 connected to thecylinder 5?. The conduit 73 has a fluid tight swivel at. 14 so that thecylinder may freely rotate relative to the relatively stationary portionof the conduit 13. When the valve 51 is positioned to supply fluid underpressure to the conduit 69 and through. conduits l0. and H to thecylinders 39 and 51, the clutch member 49 is released while the frictionband, 29 is applied, thereby to effect drum drive in cable windingdirection through the planetary reduction, gearing at a relatively lowspeed. When the valve 61 is positioned. to connect the conduit 69. tothe discharge. conduit 66, the springs 44 effect release of the frictionband 29 while the springs 54 effect connection of the clutch member 49,thereby to drive the drum directly with the shaft [2 at a relativelyhigh speed. When it is desired to drive the capstan 13 independently ofthe drum, fluid may be supplied to. the fluid cylinders 39 and 51, andthen the hand valve 12 may be closed to trap the fluid in the cylinder51 with the clutch member 49 disconnected. The valve 61 may then bepositioned to connect the conduit 10 to the discharge line 66 so thatthe springs 44 release the friction band 29. The drum drive shaft l2, towhich the capstanv is fixed, may then revolve freely relative to thedrum, and the. latter is provided with a suitable contractible brakeband 15 for holding the drum stationary at that time. There may be asuitable releasable clutch between the drive sprocket I 4 and its powersource so that the drive sprocket may freely rotate, thereby to permitunwinding of the cable from the drum by hand.

As a result of this invention, an improved post pulling winch isprovided wherein the cable winding drum may be selectively driven ateither high or low speeds in an improved manner. By the provision of thefluid operating means embodying the fluid cylinders for the clutch andthe "tas e? frictionband, the latter is automatically released .wheneverthe clutch is applied and vice versa.

' the cable, By the provision of the fluid operated frictionband forcontrolling rotation of the reaction member of the planetary reductiongearing and the fluid operated clutch for connecting the reaction memberdirectly'to the drive shaft, the

drum drive may be quickly shifted from one speed to the other, as ishighly desirable in a post puller. By the provision of the improvedfluid I control means for the clutch and friction band,

a rapid change in speed may be effected by but the single operatinghandle for the control valve. By the provision of the hand valve in theconduit leading to the clutch cylinder, the clutch may be held in areleased position when the operating cylinder for the friction band isvented so that the capstan may be operated while the drum remainsstationary. The manners of use and the advantages of the invention willbe clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form whichthe invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that thisform of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that theinvention may be modified and embodied in various other forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or the cope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a support, an element to be driven having a tubularportion journaled in said support, a rotatable drive shaft coaxial withsaid element and journaled therein, said shaft projecting at one endaxially from said element through said tubular portion and said support,planetary reduction gearing between said shaft and said elementincluding a rotatable reaction member adapted to be held stationary toeffect low speed drive of said element, said reaction member beingcoaxial with said shaft at one side of and-journaled within saidsupport, a fluid operated friction device for holding said reactionmember stationary including a friction drum secured to said reactionmember at the other side of said support, a fluid controlled clutchcoaxial with and supported by said shaft for connecting said frictiondrum directly to said shaft to effect high speed drive, manuallyoperable control valve means for regulating the flow of pressure fluidto said device and said clutch for effecting release of one whenever theother is operated while precluding simultaneous application of saiddevice and said clutch, and a manual control valve associated with saidcontrol valve means for effecting holding of said clutch released whensaid device is released whereby said drive shaft may rotate while saidelement to be driven remains stationary.

2. In combination, an element to be driven, a drive member coaxial withsaid element, a fluid released, releasable driving connection foreffecting drive of said element at one speed by said member, a fluidapplied, releasable driving connection for effecting drive of saidelement by said member at a relatively different speed, fluid operatedcontrolling means for said driving connections respectively, controlvalve means controllable by the operator for supplying pressure fluid tosaid fluid operated controlling means and for connecting the same toexhaust for only alternatively effecting drive through said connections,said control valve means connectibl either to fluid supply or exhaustand having fluid connections respectively with said fluid operatedcontrolling means, and a separate operator controllable, control valvemeans in one of said fluid connections and operable at will for trappingfluid in said one speed driving connection controlling means while saidother speed driving connection controlling means is connected to exhaustwhereby both of said controlling means may be maintained in driveinterrupting position.

3. In combination, an element to be driven, a drive member coaxial withsaid element, a fluid released, spring applied driving connection foreffecting drive of said element at one speed by said member, a fluidapplied, spring released driving connection for eifecting drive of saidelement at a relatively different speed, fluid operated controllingmeans for said driving connections respectively, control valve meanscontrollable by the operator for only alternatively supplying pressurefluid to and for venting fluid from said fluid operated controllingmeans, said control valve means having fluid connections respectivelywith said fluid operated controlling means, and a separate,operator-controllable, control valve means in one of said fluidconnections and operable at will for trapping fluid in said controllingmeans for said one speed driving connection to hold its controllingmeans in releasing position while said first mentioned control valvemeans is positioned to vent said controlling means for said other speeddriving connection to effect release of its controlling means, therebyto disconnect both driving connections from said drive member.

4. In combination, an element to be driven, a coaxial drive member, afluid released, releasable driving connection for effecting drive ofsaid element in one manner by said member, a fluid applied, releasabledriving connection for effecting drive of said element by said member ina different manner, fluid operated controlling means for said drivingconnections respectively, control valve means controllable by theoperator for supplying pressure fluid to said fluid operated controllingm ans and for connecting said controlling means to exhaust for onlyalternatively effecting drive through said driving connections, saidcontrol valve means connectible either to fluid supply or exhaust andhaving fluid connections respectively with said fluid operatedcontrolling means, and a separate, operator controllable, control valvemeans in one of said fluid connections and operable at will for trappingfluid in said one fluid operated controlling means while said otherfluid operated controlling means is connected to exhaust whereby both ofsaid controlling means may be maintained in drive interrupting position.

5. In combination, an element to be driven, a coaxial drive member, afluid released, spring applied driving connection for effecting drive ofsaid element in one manner by said member, a fluid applied, springreleased driving connection for effecting drive of said element by saidmember in a dilferent manner, fluid operated controlling means for saiddriving connections respectively, control valve means controllable bythe operator for only alternatively supplying pressure fluid to and forventing fluid from said fluid operating controlling means, said controlvalve means having. fluid connections respectively with said fluidoperated controlling means, and a separate, operator controllable,control valve means in one of said fluid connections and operable atwill for trapping fluid in the controlling means for one drivingconnection to hold the same in releasing position While said firstmentioned control valve means is positioned to vent the controllingmeans for said other driving connection to effect release of itscontrolling means, thereby to disconnect both driving connections fromsaid drive member.

CHARLES F. BALL.

REFEBENCES. CITED The. following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Number Number 8, UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Name Date. Auvi1, Jan. 17,1922 Wickes June 30, 1925 Bronander June 24,1930 Fahrney Oct. 22, 1935 Fleischel Nov. 15, 1938 Hutehins etal. Oct,31, 1939 Thompson Mar. 12, 1940 Selmer Apr. 14, 1942 Livingston Aug.17,1943 Ball Nov. 30, 1945 Carnagua Apr. 23, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTSCountry Date Great Britain May 26, 1910

